Chinchilla

Senator Glenn Lazarus has criticised the powers given to CSG miners, saying farmers should have the right to grant access to their own land, and there needs to be an immediate moratorium on new CSG projects.

Hundreds of square kilometres of prime agricultural land in Queensland are at risk from a cocktail of toxic chemicals and explosive gases unleased by underground coal gasification, according to a secret State Government report.

Mining company Linc Energy allegedly failed to report a series of dangerous gas leaks at its experimental Chinchilla coal gasification plant in Queensland and instead covered them up, according to court documents.

The state Environment Department says testing has confirmed there is no threat to air and water supplies at Chinchilla, in southern Queensland, after combustible gases were found in soil on nearby farms last month.